RIP David Alan Ironmonger born 19th September 1944, sadly died on 16th July 2017.
David’s family and friends donated £600 to Motor Neurone Disease Association in East Kent in memory of David.
The East Kent Group wish to thank everyone who donated. The money will be used to support people living with MND, their carers and families in East Kent.
A coastal walk was held on 20th May to raise funds for MNDA in East Kent.
The walk started in Whitstable at 07.00 with 21 walkers turning up to register for the 25 mile walk. These walkers walked some 12miles along the beautiful East Kent coast in glorious sunshine until they reached Minnis Bay, Birchington.
The walkers were joined at Minnis Bay by another 46 walkers registered to walk 13 miles, all 67 walkers then set out to walk to Ramsgate, along the Kent Coast, through Westgate and Margate to The Botany Bay Hotel.
At The Botany Bay Hotel the walkers were joined by the final group of 16 walkers registered to walk 5 miles to Ramsgate. All 83 walkers now walked though Broadstairs and on into Ramsgate, where the walk ended at the Churchill Tavern, who laid on light refreshments for walkers and supporters.
All walkers who finished were given a medallion for completing the inaugural Coastal Walk To D’Feet MND. Adrian Powell Made a short speech to the walkers thanking them for making the day very enjoyable and for raising funds for MNDA in East Kent.
The walk was conceived by Cath Miller, who formed a committee of Steve Miller, Adrian Powell, Lynne Paine, Dawn Smith, Ayesha Powell and Clive Hudson. The committee planned the whole event and executed the walk with the help of several volunteers who manned registration, acted as marshals, collected cash and put up signage.
Huge thanks to all the walkers and their sponsors, who enable us to raise £9,064.88 including gift aid.
Special thanks to
Diary Date for 2018 – the Coastal Walk to D’Feet MND will take place on Sunday May 20th.
East Kent MNDA Group entered the KM Charity Group Dragon Boat Race for the first time on July 2nd this year.
Our team was made up entirely from one family who had been affected by MND, supported by members of another family affected by MND.
The racing took place in Mote Park Maidstone and we arrived for our first race, registered only to find we had missed the cut off time, so rather than 3 races. we only raced twice.
Though none of our team had ever rowed a dragon boat, we managed to win both our races, however we were not fast enough to be in the final 6 teams, for the race off to be winner of the day.
We thoroughly enjoyed the day and the team is determined to race in 2018 and make a serious attempt to win. Huge thanks to our rowers and everyone who turned up to support. Thanks to KM Charity Group for organising this fabulous event.
On June 30th Wealden Business Group hosted a Murder Mystery Evening at Little Silver Country Hotel in Tenterden. The case was The Curse of the Willoughby Diamond.
The evening started with champagne as we were shown to our tables, we were hosted on a table by local members who were excellent company.
We enjoyed an excellent 3 course meal to die for!! During the meal the actors presenting the murder mystery developed the plot of the murder and murder was indeed committed.
We were then invited to use our sleuthing skills to question the cast to see if we could identify the guilty party. Our table asked some interesting questions, however we did not fine the killer.
The murderer was eventually declared and everyone in the room was a bit surprised but less so after being given the details of the crime.
There were several very good 1920 costumes, the winners Gary and Clair Bodie were chosen by a panel who were judging for the best couple, which was unfortunate for one girl on our table who was dazzling in a 20’s outfit, however her partner was not in period dress, so could not win.
The evening ended with an announcement that Murder Mystery had raised over £3000 for the Moor Neurone Disease Association in East Kent.
It’s not often you come away from the races with winnings of more than ?2,000 – but that’s what happened on Friday!
Wealden Business Group, the networking 
organisation for small and medium sized businesses, staged a Race Night at the Little Silver Country Hotel, Tenterden on Friday (3 February) in aid of their charity-of-the-year, the East Kent group of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
More than 60 people attended, and enjoyed an evening of eight filmed races and a fish & chip supper. When ticket and raffle sales and ?1-a-go betting proceeds were added up, the charity benefited to the tune of more than ?2,000.
East Kent MNDA chairman Clive Hudson thanked WBG members and guests for their support, while Wealden Business Group chair Justin Nelson commented: “It was a terrific evening, and a really fun way to raise money for a thoroughly deserving cause.”
The Group, which meets at the Little Silver every Wednesday for breakfast, business networking and presentations, nominates a charity each year. In the past five years, more than ?25,000 has been donated to local good causes.
For more information about the Group, log onto www.wealdenbusinessgroup.co.uk
Reprinted from a press release by Wealden Business Group.
Huge thanks to everyone from the Wealden Business Group for organising this wonderful and enjoyable event, raising over ?2000 to support people living with MND, their carers and families?in the East Kent area.
A short while ago MND Association East Kent were able to support a person living with MND, by funding the installation of a hoist to improve quality of life when travelling.? Ela Miller sent us this letter which we publish in full with some photographs of the hoist.
I would like to thank?MND Association East 
Kent?Group and all those involved in helping us with the hoist fitting. Martin is in his 4th year of living with MND and found being in the back of the van when travelling quite difficult and always having to sit in the back with his wheel chair, when I turned the van it was hard for Martin to adjust himself back into a straight position. It?was very?uncomfortable for him.
We started looking for other options, which to our surprise we found on the Internet a Milford lift second hand, what a great idea. ?Martin is now be able to sit in the front passenger seat of the car, all I have to do is put the sling on him and press the button of the lift and automatically it lifts him in the car.
I would like to thank the?MND Association East Kent Group?for helping us with the cost of fitting the Milford lift.?It was expensive to fit it in the car as it had to be done professionally.
The lift is fantastic and it makes Martin feel human again instead of being put in the back of a van and feeling singled out .
Thank you so much to MND Association East Kent Group for making this possible.
Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year
Love Martin and Ela x?
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The Broadstairs Hop was held on Sunday 21st of August.? The Hop provided a great afternoon’s entertainment at the Pavilion in Broadstairs.? The day was very hot and most visitors elected to stay on the beach, resulting in a lower turnout than expected.
A Raffle and donations?raised ?570.22 which was shared between Cheerful Sparrows and MNDA East Kent.? Adrian Powell gave a brief speech on behalf of MNDA East Kent and Cheerful Sparrows were represented by various members of their committee.
The beach lovers missed a great afternoon with Music from Phoebe and the Bear, Flashback, Norman’s Daughter and Lodestone.? Huge thanks to the musicians who provided the entertainment without charge.
Grateful thanks to Alan Morgan and the Summer Hop team for a wonderful afternoon of musical entertainment and for the sum of ?285.11 raised for MND Association in East Kent.
A quiz night was held at The Wrotham Arms on 14th July.
The event was huge fun and raised ?310.00 for MNDA East Kent.
We would like to thank all?the customers?who took part?and Jackie from the Wrotham Arms for her efforts in organising this excellent quiz.
Last year the Wrotham Arms raised a total of ?1635.50, to date in 2016 they have raised ?1074.10. Jackie is confident she will exceed last years total.
Huge thanks to all the customers and staff of the Wrotham Arms for raising these funds for the benefit of MNDA in East Kent.
The 2016 Podplus 3 Lakes 5k Charity event took place on Sunday 26th June at the Julie Rose Stadium. The event raised ?665 for East Kent Motor Neurone Disease Association ? the charity was chosen after a prominent local runner and patient of Podplus was diagnosed in 2014 and has shown bravery and courage throughout.? The event is organised by local business Podplus Sports Shop & Injury Clinic who provide Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Chiropody Sports Massage and Pilates.
The Walk, jog & run route passes three Conningbrook lakes in Ashford, and finishes outside the Podplus shop on the track of the Julie Rose Stadium ? it is likely to be the last year of the event due to development of the Conningbrook site.
THANKS TO SUPPORTERS without which the event wouldn?t be so successful:
The finishers all received a Pink Lady apple courtesy of Coregeo Marketing, and custom made cakes from local company?notjustcakes.co.uk, plus a custom memento. Nice Works events Martin Burke provided timing and race results. KMFM were in charge of our PB Bell, they also gave out Beach Balls and Frisbees, handed out water, medals and updated our twitter feed. Their help created a really happy finish line atmosphere and their support was invaluable.
Thanks also go to the Julie Rose Stadium, Brett?s Aggregates and the Kent Wildlife Trust for their support. Special thanks go to suppliers of the Podplus Sports Shop and Injury Clinic for prizes such as high five nutrition, and race equipment support from footwear brands New Balance and Asics.
Thanks also goes to the Podplus team including Faith Cowell for all her brilliant work pre event as she was running a 54 mile ultra on the day! We had a wonderful array of marshals who graced the route, thanks to all – especially those who came from East Kent MNDA.
If the 3 lakes 5k has inspired you to get active ? Podplus also sponsor a series of 5k & 10k runs around Victoria Park Ashford ? this friendly event is fast and flat, and runs once per month on a Friday evening 22nd?July and 19th?August. Please visit?www.nice-work.org.uk?for entry information.
Male finishers ?
17.42??? Matthew Hogben???????????????? Ashford AC
18.47?? Mark Peacock???????????????????????? Ashford Tri
19.23??? Simon Perrin????????????????????????? Istaed & Ifield
Lady Finishers
22.53??? Marie Watson
23.18??? Laura Drawbridge
23.20??? Gemma Mann
Team Prize: 1st?Team ??South Kent Harriers
Full Results and information for future events will be available on Podplus facebook page and with? Nice Work Events.
Huge Thanks to Podplus for organising this fund Raising event to support people living with MND in East Kent.? It is greatly appreciated.
There are just so many people to thanks for the success of this Journey so we shall start with all the donors that have made the trip possible and raised funds for MND.? You know who you are so we will not mention any names but thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Special mention to all those living with MND who joined us on part of our journey or attended one or more of the functions, including Mark Styles, Adrian Powell,?Bill Ashby and?others at Memorial to The Few at Capel Le Ferne.? Ashley Morgan, ?Liam Dwyer, David Setters who?joined us on parts of our journey?and special thoughts for everyone who has lost a loved one to MND.
The people who made all the events possible were the volunteers from Branches and Groups the length of the south coast. In order from East to West, East Kent Group, East Sussex Branch, West Sussex South Branch, Portsmouth and East Hampshire Branch, Southampton Branch, Bournemouth and East Dorset Branch, Exeter and East Devon Branch, Plymouth and West Devon Branch, Cornwall Branch.? It was lovely to meet you all and we have fond memories of each and every event we attended.
Thanks to all the politicians who attended, including Conor Burns MP Bournemouth West; Hazel Noonan representing Kevin Foster MP Torbay;?Councillor Michael Lyons – Shepway District Council; Councillor Dan Yates -? Brighton & Hove City Council; Councillor??Val Turner?- Worthing Borough Council; Councillors Luke Stubbs, Darren Sanders and Lynn Stagg – Portsmouth City Council; Councillors Paul Lewzey, Dave Shields, Warwick Payne?-?Southampton City Council; Councillor Tia Roos – Weymouth?& Portland Borough?Council; Councillors?Ray Hill, Di Stubley, Mark King, Nick?Pentney, Adrian Sanders, Nicole Amil, David Thomas??- Torbay Council.
Thanks also to Robert Bishop of Exeter, Cynthia?Thompson Lord Mayor of Exeter and Lady Clarissa Clifford Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon.
The support staff of MNDA fund raisers Pam Fry and Sarah Hampton, Hilary Fairfield, Rae Martin Smith Campaigns South, you helped all the way and?you were all brilliant. We could not have done?the trip?without your help and support.
The board of MND Association who supported us by attending various functions.? Thank you Sally Light, Douglas Graham, Chris Wade, and Karen Pearce.
We believe this list to be comprehensive and correct.? If there are any errors or omissions please contact webmaster@mnda-eastkent.org.uk
Huge thanks to everyone
Clive and Lynn Hudson
MNDA East Kent